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FeedbackValuing our human infrastructureFor years, politicians have talked about theunder-funded public infrastructure like high-ways, water lines, sewer systems and basic trans-portation.There is another infrastructure that is beingunder-funded in this city and state in particular:our "human infrastructure."In educational terms, we are regressing.When I was growing up, my school districtsupplied the basics for a well-rounded education.I took what I learned and then expanded myknowledge at my local county-funded library,and went on to graduate with honors at AngeloState University.Today's children receive a poorer quality edu-cation because Texas no longer properly fundspublic schools K-12, and our public libraries arebeing starved of resources. A university educa-tion that cost me $4 a credit hour has now in-creased 10 times or more since I went to school.While libraries are being destroyed by budgetcuts, the need for a strong library is greater thanever. The population that our schools serve facegreater challenges since sp many come fromhomes where English is not the first language inthe home.Despite this challenge for children and adults,ESL class funding has been slashed. Dallas Inde-pendent School District has a 50 percent dropoutrate, and GED class funding has been slashed.The state of Texas has eliminated funding forthe online databases for K-12 and DISD has re-duced the number of school librarians.Each of these reductions by other governmentagencies has increased the demand by citizens ofDallas and other Texas cities to use public li-braries; however, the city of Dallas has reducedour library spending by approximately 40 per-cent over the last three budget years.We would be lucky were our library merely"decimated," i.e. reduced by a tenth. We nowspend less money per capita on libraries thanFort Worth, Austin, Houston or San Antonio. De-spite this lack of funding, demand at Dallas Pub-lic Libraries has increased.In the 2006 bond program, the voters ap-proved approximately $60 million in funding foreight new or replacement libraries; unfortunately,those buildings are now short staffed and shortOf materials.Each branch except for Hampton Illinois hasonly a branch manager for 2% days a week sincethe branch managers cover two branches. Thebranch manager for North Oak Cliff also is re-sponsible for West Dallas. By dividing their time,they barely have time to manage their branch, letalone get to know their neighborhoods.Many branches no longer have children's li-brarians even though it is critical to encouragechildren to love reading if they hope to succeedin life. Texas prisons are filled with men who readat a fourth grade level.Our city is filled with unemployed men andwomen who lack the necessary job skills to com-pete in our global economy. If we do not investin our children, our future as a community isdoomed to failure.It does not matter how much money we givein tax breaks if our citizens cannot read the Eng-lish language. Companies may locate here butemploy suburbanites who have better fundedschools and libraries.The choice is clear: Either we as a city invest inour library system, our cultural institutionswhere children and adults learn, or we areknown as a city with beautiful monuments anda high unemployment rate.If you want to change this situation, 1 wouldencourage you to contact your City Councilmember and the mayor of Dallas. The proposed•fry holding 'em MOREto the RIGHT, f hatCHAZ BONO person)ST/LL looks likeA F6LLEH.0aivcvcv^fKS\i<£>20Ue-mail: 2ciitorialcartoori@QSvnclicate.combudget can still be changed. If you would like tohelp improve the Dallas Public Library System,you can join the Friends of the Dallas Public Li-brary or your local branch Friends Group. If yourbranch does not have a Friends group, I can helpyou start a group.Stan Aten, president, Hampton Illinois/OakLawn Library FriendsRepublicans won't help economyWhy did the president of Dallas chapter of LogCabin Republicans give no evidence in his com-mentary ("Why I will vote Republican in 2i!12,"Dallas Voice, Sept. 2) as to why the GOP will helpyour pocketbook?He couldn't. They won't. They never have.Take stocks, the way many generate retire-ment, as well as current income:DJIA up 223 percent during Clinton's eightyears, down 25 percent during the George W.Bush eight-year reign of error, and up only 46percent during his daddy's four-year term.Jobs? More than 11 percent increase annual-ized during the Clinton presidency, under ! per-cent when George W. Bush was in the WhiteHouse.How do I know the above information? Igoogled it.Don't be misled by Republicans who talkabout being better on pocketbook issues. Youonly have to check with Google to know the De-mocrats have consistently done better.Dave Gershner, DallasTO SEND A LETTER | We welcome letters from readers.Shorter letters and those addressing a single issue aremore likely to be printed. Letters are subject to editing forlength and clarity, but we attempt to maintain the writer'ssubstance and tone. Include your home address and adaytime telephone number for verification. Send lettersto the senior editor, preferably by e-mail (nash@dal-lasvoice.com). Letters also may be faxed (214-969-7271)or sent via the U.S. Postal Service (Dallas Voice, 4145Travis St., Third Floor, Dallas TX 75204). All letters becomethe property of Dallas Voice.speak out pollCAST YOUR VOTE ONLINE AT DALLASVOICE.COMWill you attend Dallas Prideactivities?RESULTS FROM LAST WEEK'S POLL:Should the federal government make deeper cuts in otherprograms to preserve funding for HIV/AIDS services?• Yes: 52 percent• No: 30 percent 125 Votes cast• Depends: 18 percent09.09.11dallasvoice 19